Tile structure.



Patented Ian. 9, I900.

No. 640,842. v

F. L. 0. WADSWURTH. TILE STRUCTURE. {Application fi 1ed Apr. 15, 1898,) (No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT Fries.

FRANKL. O. WADSWORTH, OF WILLIAMS BAY, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO WILLIAM A. BOND, TRUSTEE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

TILE STRUCTURE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 640, dated an ary 1906- Applioation filed April 15, 1898. Serial No. 677,743. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK L. 0. WADS- WORTH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Williams Bay, in the county of Wal- Worth and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tile Structures, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of structures in which a series of tiles or plates is bound together, forming a panel or other like structure; and it consists in constructing, uniting, and securing the parts together, as fully set forth hereinafter and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a longitudinal section of a tile structure embodying my improvement. Fig. 2 is an enlarged section of part of the structure, and Figs. 3 and 4 are sectional views showing modifications.

The tiles or plates N N may be of any material and any of the forms employed when a series of such tiles must be assembled and connected to constitute a panel or platform.

The construction shown is that employed in making prismatic illuminators, where the glass tiles must not only be maintained in proper relation, but also be firmly bound together in a rigid structure with tight joints which will not permit the passage of water. In the edges of each tile N are grooves or recesses 2 of any suitable form, as of equal width in Figs. 1 and 2,. or undercut or dovetailed, as in Fig. 4, or rounded, as in Fig. 3. The tiles thus grooved are assembled in the desired relation, with tying-bars bextending through the openings formed by the grooves in the meeting edges of the tiles, the bars running in one direction crossing those running in the other either above or below or first above and then below, and when, as is usually the case, there is a surrounding frame A the tying-bars extend through openings in said frame and are tightened by nuts 3 or otherwise. Preferably the grooves are of such size and forms and the bars so arranged that the bars shall occupy a central or nearly a central position in the grooves without con= tact with the tiles. After thus assembling the parts the grooves around the bars are filled with metal, either molten metal poured in through suitable openings or metal electrodeposited, the bars in the latter case serving as conductors on which the metal will readily deposit. The metal as thus cast or deposited 5 5 in the grooves constitutes continuous bars B of a one-piece frame which supports and unites the tiles and forms a rigid structure. The bars B thus formed by depositing a material in the grooves also serve to fill and pack the 66 joints, which are thereby perfectly sealed and rendered waterproof. When the grooves are undercut or dovetailed, as in Fig. 4, the metallic bars unite the tiles laterally, and great strength is secured by using bars 79 enlarged or turned up at the edges, as shown in Fig. 4, thereby anchoring them in the surrounding material and tying the parts together laterally.

Without limiting myself to the precise con- 70 struction and arrangement shown, I claim- 1. A tile structure consisting of a series of tiles with grooved edges, tying-bars extending through the grooves, and a surrounding metal filling the grooves, substantially as set forth.

2. A tile structure consisting of a series of tiles with grooved edges, tying-bars extending through the grooves and crossing each other, and a surrounding material filling the grooves, substantially as set forth. 8o

3. A tile structure consisting of a series of tiles with grooved edges, an inclosing frame, tying-bars extending through the grooves and secured to the frame, and a surrounding material filling the grooves, substantially as set' forth.

4. A tile structure consisting of a series of tiles with grooved edges, an inclosing frame,- tying-bars extending through the grooves and secured to the frame, and a continuous mego tallic frame inclosing the bars and filling the grooves, substantially as set forth.

5. A tile structure consisting of a series of tiles having undercut grooves, tying-bars extending through the grooves, and a surround- In testimony whereof I have signed my ing material filling the grooves, substantially name to this specification in the presence of m as setA forth. two subscribing witnesses.

6. tile structure consisting of a series of A 5 tiles having undercut grooves, tying-bars ex- FRANK WADSWORTH' tending through the grooves, and enlarged Witnesses: at the edges, and a surrounding material fill- HARRY E. HAY, ing the grooves, substantially as set forth. W. CLARENCE DUVALL. 

